What side do you cut drywall on?

In most cases, drywall is cut by scoring through the paper on the finish side (the one with white paper) using a sharp drywall knife. As soon as you notice the blade dulling, turn it around or replace it.

What is the best way to cut drywall?

How do I know where to cut drywall?

Can you cut drywall on either side?

by scoring both sides of the paper before snapping off the piece. Then rasp off the edge. If you try snapping with just one side scored, your strip will break off in small chunks and you’ll have a lot of rasping to do.

Does drywall have to end on stud?

Drywall Is Not on a Stud

All edges of all sheets of drywall must land on a solid surface such as a stud. A hanging drywall edge may work in the short-term, but in the long-term it can result in cracks and other serious wall issues. Sometimes, the drywall does not horizontally reach a stud.

How do you cut drywall fast?

What are the two types of seams between drywall sheets?

When installing drywall flat against a stud, there are two types of drywall joints, or seams, you can make: the butt joint or the tapered joint. In many cases, the type of joint you use is dictated by the application. But in a few instances, you may have a choice between butt and tapered joints.

Should I leave a gap between drywall sheets?

Always leave a 1/2-inch gap at the floor. This allows for floor and wall expansion without cracking the drywall. It also helps prevents moisture wicking if the floor floods.

Should drywall corners overlap?

It doesn’t matter for the walls, although it is standard practice to put drywall on the ceiling first so that the edges rest on the top edge of the drywall that you apply to the walls.

Is drywall supposed to touch the floor?

Drywall should never touch the floor. Allow for a 1/2-inch (1.27 cm) space between your new wall and your old flooring, so there is room for expansion of both materials without cracking the drywall.

How do you drywall a butt joint?

How tight does drywall need to be?

Hanging Drywall Vertically: Leave a 1/8-in.

There’s no reason to measure and cut drywall for an exact fit. It’ll usually just cause trouble. Jamming in a piece that’s too tight will crumble the edge or break out a corner (left). And removing a piece to shave a too-tight edge is messy and time consuming.

How much space should be between drywall and studs?

They’re always spaced either 16 or 24 inches on center (measured from center to center) along the wall and run between the floor and ceiling. Drywall or lath (for plaster walls) attaches to the edge of the studs.

Is mesh or paper tape better for drywall?

In general, paper drywall tape is slightly stronger and more versatile, but mesh tape has a more manageable learning curve and better moisture resistance. It comes down to personal preference: Use the tape you’re most comfortable with.

How many coats of drywall mud do I need?

You should expect a minimum of three coats of drywall mud, more likely four, and possibly even five coats. Several things will determine how many coats you need, including: Straightness of the walls. Uneven walls can take as many as five coats to achieve a smooth surface.

How do you make drywall joints smooth?

Smooth on a layer of compound in a consistent thickness, holding your 10-inch knife at an angle as you go. Now, go back over the compound with a trowel to smooth out the layer. Create a tapered edge, also called “feathering,” by running the knife over the seam while only putting pressure at the top.

Do you mud before mesh tape?

While it’s fairly simple to position mesh tape over a dry joint and then apply your first coat of mud on top, mesh tape is thicker than paper tape and can result in more noticeable joints when the wall is painted.

Can you mud over torn drywall paper?

Use a putty knife to spread a thin layer of joint compound (drywall mud) over the area. More than just filling the torn area, drywall mud creates a new surface. Make sure the joint compound extends roughly an inch or so past the edges of the tear. Apply the mud as evenly as possible.

What is a drywall hawk used for?

A hawk is a tool used to hold a plaster, mortar, or a similar material, so that the user can repeatedly, quickly and easily get some of that material on the tool which then applies it to a surface. A hawk consists of a board about 13 inches square with a perpendicular handle fixed centrally on the reverse.

Can you only do 2 coats of drywall mud?

If your wall has distinct crevices, cracks, or textured areas, or if your brand of drywall mud isn’t offering enough coverage, you may have to do a couple of additional coats of compound. However, in general, you’ll need one coat to fill in the seams and three more coats after taping.

How big a gap can you fill with drywall mud?

the drying-type you buy premixed in a bucket) will easily fill a 1/2″ gap without cracking. Make sure you load up the gap well before applying your tape, then finish it as you would any other joint.

Can you finish drywall without tape?

Finishing drywall requires tape, and that’s what it’s called in the industry. “Mud” is slang for “joint compound”.